Technical

electronic document

Any content in electronic form used as a document.

How the laws define this

Both instruments agree that an electronic document is a record, content, or data created, captured, stored, or transmitted in electronic form that possesses evidentiary and legal value. The primary divergence lies in how each instrument categorizes these items and defines the conditions for their validity. Law 4727/2020: Code on Digital Governance (Digital Governance Law) establishes distinct legal categories by differentiating original electronic public documents, electronic true copies, and digital electronic copies, setting specific rules for their circulation alongside their evidentiary worth. On the other hand, the Electronic Signature and Transactions Law No. 78 of 2012 focuses on data and records used in electronic transactions, making legal and evidentiary recognition strictly contingent upon meeting specific integrity and authenticity requirements.

Synthesised from the 2 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.

How jurisdictions differ

What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first.

Jurisdiction	Instrument	Status	What is distinctive
Greece	Law 4727/2020: Code on Digital Governance	In Force (Amended)	This definition distinguishes types of original electronic public documents, true copies, and digital copies, and specifies rules for their evidentiary value and circulation under the Code.
Iraq	Electronic Signature and Transactions Law No. 78 of 2012	In Force	This definition requires the electronic document to meet the law's integrity and authenticity requirements for recognition in evidentiary and legal purposes.

What it triggers

In Greece, under Law 4727/2020, it constitutes an original public or private document with rules for evidentiary value and circulation.source
In Iraq, under Electronic Signature and Transactions Law No. 78 of 2012, it is recognized for evidentiary and legal purposes when meeting integrity and authenticity requirements.source

Definitions (2)

A record or content captured, stored or transmitted in electronic form that may constitute an original public or private document under the Code; the law distinguishes original electronic public documents, electronic true copies and digital electronic copies and sets rules for their evidentiary value and circulation.

Law 4727/2020: Code on Digital Governance (Digital Governance Law)Definition 1 of 2

Any document that is created, stored, or transmitted in electronic form, including data and records used in electronic transactions, which is recognized for evidentiary and legal purposes when meeting the law's integrity and authenticity requirements.

Electronic Signature and Transactions Law No. 78 of 2012Definition 2 of 2

Not to be confused with

Electronic Record

Electronic record refers to a digitally existing or routinely generated record by a public body, while electronic document is any content in electronic form used as a document.

Electronic Signature

Electronic signature is a personal mark linking a signatory to data, whereas electronic document is the content itself in electronic form.

Electronic Contract

Electronic contract is specifically a contract formed by electronic offer and acceptance, unlike the broader electronic document covering any electronic content used as a document.

Questions and answers

What types of electronic documents are recognized in Greece?

Law 4727/2020 distinguishes original electronic public documents, electronic true copies, and digital electronic copies. It sets rules for their evidentiary value and circulation.

What requirements must an electronic document meet in Iraq for legal recognition?

It must meet the law's integrity and authenticity requirements to be recognized for evidentiary and legal purposes in electronic transactions.

How do electronic documents relate to public sector operations in Greece?

Under Law 4727/2020, they are used across Greek public sector bodies with mandated data exchange standards, open data reuse, and electronic services.